YEA Lesson Library
Open My Eyes
About This Lesson
This lesson talks about physical and spiritual blindness and that Jesus can heal both.
Scriptures
Psalm 19:7-10
Isaiah 42:6-8
Isaiah 64:4-5
Ezekiel 12:1-2
John 9:1-40
1 Corinthians 2:9-11
2 Corinthians 4:3-5
Galatians 2:17-19
Ephesians 4:17-18
Words to Know
PYRE - a pile for burning used in funeral rites
COMMOTION - furor, uproar, excitement, disturbance
INDIGNANT - to take offense at
DELUSION - a false belief that is resistant to reason
The Lesson
Have you ever had a friendship break up? What if the person who was your friend could only see your bad traits? In the eyes of that person your good points withered away like a funeral pyre. It was as though all your good- ness burned in a giant bonfire. No longer could he see your good looks, kindness, great intellect, thoughtfulness and patience. Your friend allowed his anger toward you to blind him. He could not see! His blindness hurt you. But was he also suffering from his blindness as well? He allowed his blindness to separate a valued friendship.
When Jesus was on this earth, there were people like the friend you may have lost – they were blinded from seeing Jesus’ goodness. There were also people who were physically blind and couldn’t see a thing with their eyes. They couldn’t see their friends’ face to know what they looked like and where they were standing.
One Sabbath a beggar, who was blind from birth, was there with Jesus and His disciples. He had never seen his mother’s face, a sunrise or sunset. If he had a girl friend, he didn’t have a clue if she had blue eyes or brown eyes. Makeup wouldn’t have made her more beautiful in his eyes.
Jesus’ disciples wanted to blame this man’s blindness on sin. They asked Jesus if this man was blind as a result of his own sins or his parents sins. Jesus quickly explained that sin was not the reason for the man being blind. The man’s blindness provided an opportunity for God’s power to be demonstrated. At this point, Jesus reached down to the ground and got a handful of dirt. He spit on it and made some mud. Then He put the mud on the blind man’s eyes and told him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. The blind man believed and obeyed Christ and washed in the Pool of Siloam. Guess what? He could see. That’s awesome!
All the people in that area knew this man had been blind from birth. Seeing him walk around town like he could now see where he was going surprised everyone. They asked, “Is this the same fellow – the beggar?” Some said it looks like him, but it can’t possibly be. The beggar said, “Oh yes, it’s me. I’m the same fellow that couldn’t see.”
“How in the world can you see?” they asked. He explained that a man named Jesus made mud and put it on his eyes and told him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. “I did, and I can see!” That man really knew that his eyes were opened because he believed Jesus and obeyed Him.
The people wanted to know where they could find Jesus. The man who was healed had no idea. So they took him to the Pharisees and they asked him to tell them what had happen. Again, he told his story. The Pharisees became very indignant, because Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath. Some of them even said, “Then this fellow Jesus is not from God, be- cause he is working on the Sabbath.” Not everyone believed that theory. Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miracles?” This caused a real commotion among the Pharisees, and they turned on the man who had been blind. They demanded that the man who could now see tell them who he would say Jesus was.
“I think he must be a prophet sent from God,” the man said. Well, they didn’t buy that story either. They even began to doubt that the man had ever been blind. So they called in the man’s parents to verify that it was their son, and that he had been blind. His parents didn’t have a clue why their son could now see. So they called their son in again and told him to give the glory to God and not to Jesus, “for we know Jesus is an evil person.” The blind man said, “I don’t know whether he is good, or bad, but I know this: I was blind, and now I see!”
Jesus heard what had happened and He went to find the man He had healed of blind- ness. He asked, “Do you believe in the Messiah?” The man asked “Who is He, I want to.” Jesus said, “You’ve not only seen Him, you are speaking with Him.” The man said that He did believe in Jesus and he worshiped Him.
The Pharisees were standing there and asked Jesus “Are you saying we are blind?” Jesus said “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin, but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
Are you blinded to seeing that Jesus is your Savior? If not, your guilt remains until you repent of your sins and believe on Him. Jesus can open your eyes and heal you of your sins the same as He healed the beggar of his blindness? Jesus wants you to believe and worship Him as the blind man did. He will open your eyes to wondrous things!
Student Prayer
Great Heavenly Father,
Thank you for healing the man of his blindness. Help me to never become blinded to your truth, love and mercy. It is sin and unbelief that blinds us. I need your help to always believe you and to turn to you for forgiveness. You are such a merciful God. Help my unbelief!
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Psalm 19:7-10
Monday - Isaiah 42:6-8
Tuesday - Isaiah 64:4-5
Wednesday - Ezekiel 12:1-2
Thursday - 1 Corinthians 2:9-11
Friday - Galatians 2:17-19
Saturday - 2 Corinthians 4:3-5
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Explain that a person is blinded to God’s truth because of their own sin and disbelief.
2. Discuss that becoming blind to a person’s good points can break up a friendship.
3. State that the Pharisees allowed them- selves to disbelieve Jesus’ miracles and Messiahship.
4. Tell that God can open our eyes to believe He is our Messiah if we will ask Him.
Topics & Themes
Blindness
God’s Omnipotence
Jesus, His Miracles
Healing
Jesus, Savior
Physical Infirmities -
Blindness
Pool of Siloam
Sabbath
Sin
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA students and teacher’s books, copies of skit, tray, food on it, table, two chairs, attendance and memory verse charts, CD/cassette tape, music player and songbook
How to Teach This Lesson
Skit: Taking Friendship For granted
The Scene: A fault line is discovered in a relationship at lunch when one friend gets fed up with always paying the bill.
Characters: Linda and Karen (if you use girls) or Daren and Eric (if you use two boys. Daren plays Linda’s part and Eric plays Karen’s part)
Props: Two trays of food, a table and two chairs (The two students enter the room with a tray of food.)
Linda: Thanks, Karen, for buying my lunch.
Karen: I sure hope you enjoy it. This is the last time that I’m paying for it.
Linda: I don’t know what you mean.
Karen: I hope you get it this time. I don’t know how to say it any plainer. I’m tired of always paying for your lunch.
Linda: Wait a minute! You’re talking like you always pick up the tab.
Karen: You got it! You never have any money. No matter where we go or what we do, you’re always broke. You borrow money when we go to the movie together, when we get a pizza, when we go skating . . . I’m fed up with it.
Linda: You act like I’m stealing money from you and you know that’s not true.
Karen: I’m not your Mom or your banker. I work hard every day after school for my money. You could do the same thing.
Linda: You know I work hard too.
Karen: Then why are you always broke?
Linda: Well, I just have so many things to buy and you know, the money just goes.
Karen: That’s fine for you, but I don’t need friends who are always mooching off of me. (The two characters leave the room.)
After this skit, debrief by asking the questions:
How did you feel about Karen’s attitude toward Linda? Was it justified? Why or why not? How did you feel about Linda’s attitude? Was it justified? Why or why not? What do you feel was at the core of both attitudes? They were blinded to their own attitudes. How does allowing yourself to be blinded to another person’s needs or reasons prevent you from doing what is right? You begin to think that you are completely right and they are all wrong.
How were the Pharisees blinded to a miracle that Jesus performed on the blind man? They let the fact that Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath day blind them. What did this cause them to do? They jumped to the conclusion that Jesus was not from God and that He was evil. How were they wrong?
Did Jesus make a comparison of physical blindness to spiritual blind- ness? How? Spiritual blindness caused them to be guilty of the sin of unbelief. Are your eyes open to see that Jesus is your Messiah. How will that change your life? Can He heal you of sins? Will you let Him open your eyes to wondrous things?
Teacher-Directed Activity
The skit serves as the lesson and today’s activity.
REACH Activity
Memory Verse Spotlight
Use a Bible and Bible tools to find at least three Scriptures opposite in meaning to the memory verse’s description of someone who is “blinded and confused.” For example, what if someone has an open heart and lives in the light? Write the three Scriptures in your Bible notebook and discuss them with your class or family.
Where in the World?
Research the history of the Pool of Siloam. Present your information to a younger YEA class and teach them the story in John 9:1-11. Plan an age-appropriate activity for the class to accompany the lesson. Take pictures during the activity and display them for the church and parents.
They Did What Back Then?
The current age of technology has provided healing to those who, even a decade ago, may have continued in their suffering and pain. What was the world of medicine like in the ancient world or biblical times? Research the topic of diseases and medicine. How did people treat themselves when they were sick or hurt? Write your findings in your Bible notebook. How do the facts that you found compare to the healings and miracles performed by Jesus? Discuss this topic with your class or family.
Making It Mine
Do you remember the story of the father whose son was possessed of an evil spirit? (You can find it in Mark 9:14-30.) The spirit wouldn’t let the boy speak, it threw him to the ground and caused him to foam at the mouth, it even threw the boy into the fire or the water to kill him. Then the father asked if there was anything Jesus could do to help. Jesus said, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” The father’s immediate response was, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” This Scripture is so valuable to us! It tells us that when we know we don’t believe as we should, we can ask God to help us. When we know our eyes are blinded, we can ask God to open our eyes.
What do you need to see more clearly in your life?
Worldview Collision
A biblical worldview says that God exists, that He has authority over everything, that He is involved in the affairs of men. Other worldviews doubt the existence of God. Or, they say He has no authority over the individual. Or, they say He has set up our world, but He’s not involved in what happens—much like winding up a top and letting it spin itself out.
The truth is, we have a loving Heavenly Father who gave His Son, while we were still sinners, so that we might have eternal life with Him in His Kingdom. He loves us. He wants us to seek Him with our whole hearts. He gives us what we need. He directs us in His ways when we ask. We serve a great God. He is good all the time.
For each of the statements above, there are corresponding Scriptures. Using a concordance, find supporting Scriptures and write them in your Bible notebook.
Song
“Do Lord” is on page 74 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Have the students form a circle and hold hands. Lead in prayer asking God to always keep our eyes open so that we can truly see the truth in His Word and in every situation in life. Mention that relationships with friends and with Him can be destroyed by allowing ourselves to become blinded by sin and unbelief to the truth.
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